Helicobacter pylori Infection and Peptic Ulcer Disease in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 16 - 21
• Main Authors: Dong Joon Kim, Hak Yang Kim, Sung Jung Kim, Tae Ho Hahn, Myoung Kuk Jang, Gwang Ho Baik, Jin Bong Kim, Sang Hoon Park, Myung Seok Lee, Choong Kee Park
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한내과학회 01.03.2008
• Subjects: Helicobacter pylori; Liver cirrhosis; Peptic ulcer
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648

Background/Aims: We investigated the prevalence and relationship of peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori infection to liver cirrhosis. Methods: We examined 288 patients with liver cirrhosis, 322 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia, and 339 patients with peptic ulcer disease. Rapid urease test and Wright-Giemsa staining were used for diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Results: The prevalence of peptic ulcer disease in patients with cirrhosis was 24.3%. The prevalence of peptic ulcer disease in patients with cirrhosis divided into Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 22.3%, 21.0%, and 31.3%, respectively (p>0.05). The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the patients with cirrhosis, non-ulcer dyspepsia, and peptic ulcer without chronic liver disease were 35.1%, 62.4%, and 73.7%, respectively (p<0.001). The prevalence of H. pylori infection did not differ depending on whether there was peptic ulcer (35.6%) or not (34.9%) in patients with liver cirrhosis (p>0.05). The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with hepatitis virus-related liver cirrhosis and in the patients with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis was 42.5% and 22.0%, respectively (p<0.001). The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C liver cirrhosis was 51.5%, 30.5%, and 20.0%, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusions: Factors other than H. pylori may be involved in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease in the setting of liver cirrhosis.